Zone switching in mixed-zone air interface

Abstract

Embodiments of a system and method for wireless communication are provided. In certain embodiments, a base station provides a first zone using a first version of the communication standard and a second zone using a second version of the communication standard. In certain embodiments, the base station determines whether a mobile station communicating with the base station in the first zone can support the second version of the communication standard used in the second zone. When the mobile station can support the second version of the communication standard, the base station can send a command to switch the mobile station to the second zone.

1. A method for wireless communication performed by a mobile station, the method comprising:
 receiving an assignment of a first resource for a communication session, the first resource being provided from a first zone of a multi-zone base station, wherein communications in the first zone use a first version of a communication standard; 
 receiving a command in the first zone to switch the communication session to the second zone of the multi-zone base station, wherein communications in the second zone use a second version of the communication standard, and wherein the first version of the communication standard and the second version of the communication standard are provided from a common standards family; 
 receiving system information for the second zone of the multi-zone base station; and 
 switching at least a portion of the communication session to the second zone of the multi-zone base station using the system information for the second zone. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , comprising:
 performing a handoff of the communication session from a single zone base station to the first zone of the multi-zone base station, the single zone base station using the first version of the communication standard. 
 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the system information for the second zone includes information to allow the mobile station to switch at least a portion of the communication session to the second zone. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 1 , comprising:
 receiving one of a media access control (MAC) version and a release number from the multi-zone base station prior to receiving the zone switching command; and 
 determining whether the multi-zone base station provides a second zone based on the one of the MAC version and the release number, wherein when the one of the MAC version and the release number indicates that the multi-zone base station provides a second zone, scanning a downlink control channel for the system information for the second zone. 
 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 1 , comprising:
 transmitting one of a media access control (MAC) version and a release number to the multi-zone base station, wherein the one of a MAC version and a release number corresponds to one of the first version and the second version of the communication standard in which the mobile station is capable of using. 
 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 1 , comprising:
 releasing the first resource for the communication session; 
 transmitting a signal in the second zone for entering into the second zone after releasing the first resource for the communication session; and 
 receiving an assignment of a second resource for the communication session after completion of entering into the second zone, the second resource from the second zone. 
 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 1 , comprising:
 entering into the second zone; 
 transmitting a signal in the first zone for the communication session concurrent with entering into the second zone; 
 releasing the first resource for the communication session after initiation of entering into the second zone; and 
 receiving an assignment of a second resource for the communication session after completion of entering into the second zone, the second resource from the second zone. 
 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 1 , comprising:
 entering into the second zone; 
 switching a control plane for the communication session to the second zone; and 
 transmitting a data signal for the communication session in the first zone concurrently with receiving a control signal for the communication session in the second zone. 
 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the common standards family is provided from one of an IEEE 802.16 standards family, a Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (WCDMA) standards family, a 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) High Speed Packet Access (HSPA) standards family, or a 3GPP Long Term Evolution (LTE) standards family. 
     
     
       10. A method for wireless communication performed by a mobile station, the method comprising:
 receiving an assignment of a first resource for a communication session, the first resource being provided from a first zone of a base station, wherein communications in the first zone use a first version of a communication standard; 
 receiving a command in the first zone to switch the communication session to the second zone of the base station, wherein communications in the second zone use a second version of the communication standard; 
 receiving system information for the second zone of the base station; and 
 switching at least a portion of the communication session to the second zone of the base station using the system information for the second zone; 
 entering into the second zone, wherein entering into the second zone includes:
 transmitting a signal in the first zone having a message type corresponding to the second zone; and 
 receiving a signal in the first zone having a message type corresponding to the second zone; 
 
 transmitting a signal in the first zone for the communication session concurrent with entering into the second zone; 
 releasing the first resource for the communication session after initiation of entering into the second zone; and 
 receiving an assignment of a second resource for the communication session after completion of entering into the second zone, the second resource being provided from the second zone. 
 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 10 , wherein transmitting a signal in the first zone having a message type corresponding to the second zone includes transmitting a signal having a message type not specified in the first zone. 
     
     
       12. A wireless device comprising:
 an RF transceiver for transmitting and receiving signals from a base station; 
 processing circuitry communicatively coupled to the RF transceiver and configured to:
 receive an assignment of a first resource for a communication session, the first resource from a first zone of a multi-zone base station, wherein communications in the first zone use a first version of a communication standard; 
 receive a command in the first zone to switch the communication session to the second zone of the multi-zone base station, wherein communications in the second zone use a second version of the communication standard, and wherein the first version of the communication standard and the second version of the communication standard are provided from a common standards family; 
 receive system information for the second zone of the multi-zone base station; and 
 switch at least a portion of the communication session to the second zone of the multi-zone base station. 
 
 
     
     
       13. The wireless device of  claim 12 , wherein the processing circuitry is configured to:
 perform a handoff of the communication session from a single zone base station to the first zone of the multi-zone base station, the single zone base station using the first version of the communication standard. 
 
     
     
       14. The wireless device of  claim 12 , wherein the processing circuitry is configured to:
 receive one of a media access control (MAC) version and a release number from the multi-zone base station prior to receiving the zone switching command; and 
 determine whether the second zone is provided by the multi-zone base station based on the media access control (MAC) version and the release number, wherein when the one of the MAC version and the release number indicates that the multi-zone base station provides a second zone, the processing circuitry is configured to scan a downlink control channel for the system information for the second zone. 
 
     
     
       15. The wireless device of  claim 12 , wherein the processing circuitry is configured to:
 send one of a media access control (MAC) version and a release number to the multi-zone base station, wherein the one of a MAC version and a release number correspond to one of the first version and the second version of the communication standard in which the mobile station is capable of using. 
 
     
     
       16. The wireless device of  claim 12 , wherein the processing circuitry is configured to:
 release the first resource for the communication session in response to a zone switching command; 
 send a signal in the second zone for entering into the second zone after releasing the first resource for the communication session; and 
 receive an assignment of a second resource for the communication session after completion of entering into the second zone, the second resource from the second zone. 
 
     
     
       17. The wireless device of  claim 12 , wherein the processing circuitry is configured to:
 enter into the second zone in response to the command; 
 send a signal in the first zone for the communication session concurrent with entering into the second zone; 
 release the first resource for the communication session after initiation of entering into the second zone; and 
 receive an assignment of a second resource for the communication session after completing of entering into the second zone, the second resource from the second zone. 
 
     
     
       18. The wireless device of  claim 17 , wherein the processing circuitry is configured to enter into the second zone by:
 sending a signal in the first zone having a message type corresponding to the second zone; and 
 receiving a signal in the first zone having a message type corresponding to the second zone. 
 
     
     
       19. The wireless device of  claim 12 , wherein the processing circuitry is configured to:
 enter into the second zone in response to the command; 
 switch a control plane for the communication session to the second zone; and 
 send a data signal for the communication session in the first zone while concurrently receiving a control signal for the communication session in the second zone. 
 
     
     
       20. The wireless device of  claim 12 , wherein the common standards family is provided from one of: an IEEE 802.16 standards family, a 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (WCDMA) standards family, a 3GPP High Speed Packet Access (HSPA) standards family, or a 3GPP Long Term Evolution (LTE) standards family.